[IlladelphParticipant]

I just read all of the comments in the previous "Skal" thread.  I guess everyone is coming out of the woodwork now, and jumping on the Skal hatorade wagon.

Just remember that the value in Skal is that he has huge upside and natural talent.  This will translate eventually when he develops his body, and skills.  Whether this development will happen this year, next year, or in 3-4 years, no one knows.  Calipari is an under-rated coach who has the most extensive experience preparing his players for the NBA, so I still think Skal will come out in 2016 if he has even modest development.  

Some posters don’t think that Skal is a lottery pick, and that a GM would get fired for picking him that high.  I think that judgement cannot be made at this point in the season.  Bigs are notorious for developing slowly, and Skal is no exception.  His high school basketball career was not what most would consider a great experience.  He did not have the level of training and preparation that most elite U.S. players have going in to college.

This time at Kentucky is going to test Skal’s mental fortitude, and we’ll see how he responds to the mounting negativity.  If he is strong enough to absorb all of the negative criticism, and develop some skills, and strength, then he is definitely a lottery pick.  I don’t think he leaves Kentucky until he gets to that point though.  How long that will take is anyone’s guess.  It could be this season, or next, or the next.  I suspect that by the end of the season he will have got some mojo going, and he will probably come out.  

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Anyone who is completely writing off skal because of a stretch of bad games is being just as premature as those who annointed him as a potential number one pick and future superstar before the season started. Hes still a very young player with a tremendous upside. Hes just a lot more raw in terms of development and understanding of the game than most people realized.

I’m not sure if staying at Kentucky would be the best move for him though. Cal is a great recruiter and good coach imo but his strengths lie more in recruiting talent and than finding ways to mesh it together on the court than actually developing players. If you look at the players (specifically bigs) he has coached over his tenure at Kentucky that actually stayed beyond one season the development of their skills has not been all that great. Have guys like poythress and Lee really progressed that much in their time there? I don’t like the way cal utilizes him in the offense and don’t think it really plays to his strengths as a player. I’m not saying he won’t get better at Kentucky but he might be able to really get more individual focus elsewhere.

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Anyone who is completely writing off skal because of a stretch of bad games is being just as premature as those who annointed him as a potential number one pick and future superstar before the season started. Hes still a very young player with a tremendous upside. Hes just a lot more raw in terms of development and understanding of the game than most people realized.

I’m not sure if staying at Kentucky would be the best move for him though. Cal is a great recruiter and good coach imo but his strengths lie more in recruiting talent and than finding ways to mesh it together on the court than actually developing players. If you look at the players (specifically bigs) he has coached over his tenure at Kentucky that actually stayed beyond one season the development of their skills has not been all that great. Have guys like poythress and Lee really progressed that much in their time there? I don’t like the way cal utilizes him in the offense and don’t think it really plays to his strengths as a player. I’m not saying he won’t get better at Kentucky but he might be able to really get more individual focus elsewhere.

 

[circumlocution75Participant]

 give him time….. Scouts like him a lot….. He’s got an NBA body & Talent – he will be fine….. I would give hime this whole season….. See how he plays in the Conference Tourny & March Madness…… But w/ his potential, I just can’t see him dropping out of the Lottery…. Too much upside……. & remember Bigs take the longest to develop…… 

[circumlocution75Participant]

 give him time….. Scouts like him a lot….. He’s got an NBA body & Talent – he will be fine….. I would give hime this whole season….. See how he plays in the Conference Tourny & March Madness…… But w/ his potential, I just can’t see him dropping out of the Lottery…. Too much upside……. & remember Bigs take the longest to develop…… 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Sure, Skal could leave, but I doubt he would transfer.

He basically lost last year in high school, and this set him back.

If he sits out a year then that would set him back again.

Now, unless Skal is COMPLETELY off the radar, then I think he might be MORE LIKELY to declare after this year.  If he shows flashes of production, but still doesn’t see a path to stardom at Kentucky, then I think he at least looks at declaring for the draft.

He would be a GREAT late first round pick.  ESPECIALLY to a team with multiple draft picks this year.  I think the 76ers could take a chance on him.  Say the draft sets up PERFECTLY for Philly and they get the top pick AND the Lakers pick.  So, they go with Ben Simmons.  Then Buddy Hield for a big time scorer/shooter at the 2.  … If Dunn is off the table (or even if he is still on the table) I like Philly taking a look at Hield.

Ish Smith seems to be getting the job done pretty well.  The Sixers also have TJ McConnell and Kendall Marshall.

With their other first round picks, I can see the Sixers looking at a big stretch four like Skal.  Skal could play with either Okafor or Noel, and would give them some shooting on a team without many shooters.

BUT, you have Ben Simmons and Ish out there running the show, with Okafor or Noel at the 5, and Buddy Hield at the 2, I think Skal at the 4 makes sense.  

Skal would also be insurance for Embiid if he didnt’ pan out.  OR, Dario Saric insurance if the Sixers look to shop him…  

Skal would also be a great pick for a contender picking at the end of the first round.  Skal would make some sense on the Spurs.  I think he would be a GREAT fit for the Warriors, a team who likes to get up and down more, and shoot a ton of 3’s, but a team that lacks a bunch of depth at power forward.  Skal could be the Mo Speights replacement.

I don’t really see him falling past the Sixers picks (24 and 27).  Likely could go to Boston who picks at 19 and 21 right now.  Detroit is at 18 and could use a fairly athletic, long stretch four like Skal even though they already have Morris and Ersan.  Then you have the Clippers at 26.  Could be a GREAT fit there as the third big with the Spurs at 29 and the Warriors at 30.  

So if Skal doesn’t completely fall off the map, AND he doesn’t think he would be a SUREFIRE top 5 pick in 2017, I think he should declare for the draft in 2016.  Might not be enough upside to stay in school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Sure, Skal could leave, but I doubt he would transfer.

He basically lost last year in high school, and this set him back.

If he sits out a year then that would set him back again.

Now, unless Skal is COMPLETELY off the radar, then I think he might be MORE LIKELY to declare after this year.  If he shows flashes of production, but still doesn’t see a path to stardom at Kentucky, then I think he at least looks at declaring for the draft.

He would be a GREAT late first round pick.  ESPECIALLY to a team with multiple draft picks this year.  I think the 76ers could take a chance on him.  Say the draft sets up PERFECTLY for Philly and they get the top pick AND the Lakers pick.  So, they go with Ben Simmons.  Then Buddy Hield for a big time scorer/shooter at the 2.  … If Dunn is off the table (or even if he is still on the table) I like Philly taking a look at Hield.

Ish Smith seems to be getting the job done pretty well.  The Sixers also have TJ McConnell and Kendall Marshall.

With their other first round picks, I can see the Sixers looking at a big stretch four like Skal.  Skal could play with either Okafor or Noel, and would give them some shooting on a team without many shooters.

BUT, you have Ben Simmons and Ish out there running the show, with Okafor or Noel at the 5, and Buddy Hield at the 2, I think Skal at the 4 makes sense.  

Skal would also be insurance for Embiid if he didnt’ pan out.  OR, Dario Saric insurance if the Sixers look to shop him…  

Skal would also be a great pick for a contender picking at the end of the first round.  Skal would make some sense on the Spurs.  I think he would be a GREAT fit for the Warriors, a team who likes to get up and down more, and shoot a ton of 3’s, but a team that lacks a bunch of depth at power forward.  Skal could be the Mo Speights replacement.

I don’t really see him falling past the Sixers picks (24 and 27).  Likely could go to Boston who picks at 19 and 21 right now.  Detroit is at 18 and could use a fairly athletic, long stretch four like Skal even though they already have Morris and Ersan.  Then you have the Clippers at 26.  Could be a GREAT fit there as the third big with the Spurs at 29 and the Warriors at 30.  

So if Skal doesn’t completely fall off the map, AND he doesn’t think he would be a SUREFIRE top 5 pick in 2017, I think he should declare for the draft in 2016.  Might not be enough upside to stay in school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 I think like Kyle Wiltjer, Skal would do well moving elsewhere if he doesn’t break out at some point this season.. every year Cal is guaranteed to bring in a great class and if you haven’t performed well enough to head off to the NBA then you often get buried in the rotation till you’re an upperclassmen, ala Marcus Lee. I think his skill set isn’t suited to the dribble drive offense that Cal predicates his offenses on. He isn’t a post up big, and he isn’t as good as Karl Towns was where even though he wasnt a post up big he could do it any way for the betterment of the offense.

 Look at Kyle Wiltjer, got buried on the depth chart his sophomore year, so went off to Gonzaga and is now one of the best bigs in the country. While I’m not a huge believer in Skal at this point and don’t think he has one great skill like Wiltjer had in his shooting, I still think a better environment with less pressure for instant results to run off as a one and done like what you have in Kentucky could benefit him greatly. He’s clearly a work in progress, he has great athleticism, but hasn’t been able to showcase the perimeter skills that were so highly touted in highschool at Kentucky so far.

  He also clearly doesn’t have the physique to be banging inside at the college level at this point, and doesn’t have the mindset to just go out and get banged around and push through it like Davis did, Skal got punched in the mouth metaphorically in the UCLA game and his confidence has been shot since.

 If things don’t improve over the course of this season I’d like to see him transfer to a school with less pressure on leaving after one year and more focus on developing his body and skillset and maybe he comes out after 4 years and is a fantastic player. But right now, if things keep going as they are and Cal keeps trying to make this kid play like Anthony Davis, KAT  and Julius Randle did, results aren’t going to come, and if he declares inspite of that, we are looking at a Daniel Orton situation for whatever NBA team gets him.

Also, just a side note, but I remember when I saw film of him and Thon Maker going at it last year, that Skal looked absolutely ripped, he looks significantly less toned at Kentucky than he did then. Is that just me or was it just because Thon is that skinny that anyone standing next to him looks like a body builder?

 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 I think like Kyle Wiltjer, Skal would do well moving elsewhere if he doesn’t break out at some point this season.. every year Cal is guaranteed to bring in a great class and if you haven’t performed well enough to head off to the NBA then you often get buried in the rotation till you’re an upperclassmen, ala Marcus Lee. I think his skill set isn’t suited to the dribble drive offense that Cal predicates his offenses on. He isn’t a post up big, and he isn’t as good as Karl Towns was where even though he wasnt a post up big he could do it any way for the betterment of the offense.

 Look at Kyle Wiltjer, got buried on the depth chart his sophomore year, so went off to Gonzaga and is now one of the best bigs in the country. While I’m not a huge believer in Skal at this point and don’t think he has one great skill like Wiltjer had in his shooting, I still think a better environment with less pressure for instant results to run off as a one and done like what you have in Kentucky could benefit him greatly. He’s clearly a work in progress, he has great athleticism, but hasn’t been able to showcase the perimeter skills that were so highly touted in highschool at Kentucky so far.

  He also clearly doesn’t have the physique to be banging inside at the college level at this point, and doesn’t have the mindset to just go out and get banged around and push through it like Davis did, Skal got punched in the mouth metaphorically in the UCLA game and his confidence has been shot since.

 If things don’t improve over the course of this season I’d like to see him transfer to a school with less pressure on leaving after one year and more focus on developing his body and skillset and maybe he comes out after 4 years and is a fantastic player. But right now, if things keep going as they are and Cal keeps trying to make this kid play like Anthony Davis, KAT  and Julius Randle did, results aren’t going to come, and if he declares inspite of that, we are looking at a Daniel Orton situation for whatever NBA team gets him.

Also, just a side note, but I remember when I saw film of him and Thon Maker going at it last year, that Skal looked absolutely ripped, he looks significantly less toned at Kentucky than he did then. Is that just me or was it just because Thon is that skinny that anyone standing next to him looks like a body builder?

 

[evangelion79Participant]

 Why do people always think transferring from UK is a good idea if you want to get into the NBA? Who has benefitted from doing that? Sure Kyle Wiltjer and Harrow both put up better numbers because they got the ball more often but Harrow didnt benefit (undrafted) and from the looks of it niether has Wiltjer. He is not even projected to go in the draft and hes a senior. He could put up half those numbers at UK and he would probably get drafted. Same with Harrow. Do you think Orton wouldve went first round as a freshman on a different team? And he only had to average 3 pts and 3 rebs a game. Liggins? Teague? Harrison? Dakari? If you want the best chance to get to the NBA you stay at UK. Unless you can go somewhere like Duke or UNC or Kansas. Because youre pretty much already playing with NBA players. And the best way to get better is to play against better competition. Skal will be fine where he’s at.

[evangelion79Participant]

 Why do people always think transferring from UK is a good idea if you want to get into the NBA? Who has benefitted from doing that? Sure Kyle Wiltjer and Harrow both put up better numbers because they got the ball more often but Harrow didnt benefit (undrafted) and from the looks of it niether has Wiltjer. He is not even projected to go in the draft and hes a senior. He could put up half those numbers at UK and he would probably get drafted. Same with Harrow. Do you think Orton wouldve went first round as a freshman on a different team? And he only had to average 3 pts and 3 rebs a game. Liggins? Teague? Harrison? Dakari? If you want the best chance to get to the NBA you stay at UK. Unless you can go somewhere like Duke or UNC or Kansas. Because youre pretty much already playing with NBA players. And the best way to get better is to play against better competition. Skal will be fine where he’s at.

[Hype Machine]

Reason to leave is to avoid a seasons worth of DNP-CD’s.

Kentuckys going to reload with better players than him, and younger currently rostered players  – Humphries and Wynyard, will easily overtake him on the depth chart.

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

Reason to leave is to avoid a seasons worth of DNP-CD’s.

Kentuckys going to reload with better players than him, and younger currently rostered players  – Humphries and Wynyard, will easily overtake him on the depth chart.

 

 

 

[evangelion79Participant]

He wouldnt get DNPs I dont think. He might not get much playing time. But like I said, neither did Orton, KAT, Dakari, Booker, Lyles, ect.. but they all had potential so they did play some. And they all got drafted. And if Skal keeps showing potential he’ll play. Kentucky is loaded each year. But they also send 4-7 guys into the draft each year. I just dont see transferring doing much to help him because unless he can put up monstrous numbers, going to an average school to get playing time will only hurt him as a prospect. Wiltjer has played phenomonal on a very good team and still isnt even a projected top 60 pick. If your just not pro potential then thats just the way it is, which could be the case for Skal. But I dont ever seeing him slipping to the DNP end of the bench by his second or third season.

[evangelion79Participant]

He wouldnt get DNPs I dont think. He might not get much playing time. But like I said, neither did Orton, KAT, Dakari, Booker, Lyles, ect.. but they all had potential so they did play some. And they all got drafted. And if Skal keeps showing potential he’ll play. Kentucky is loaded each year. But they also send 4-7 guys into the draft each year. I just dont see transferring doing much to help him because unless he can put up monstrous numbers, going to an average school to get playing time will only hurt him as a prospect. Wiltjer has played phenomonal on a very good team and still isnt even a projected top 60 pick. If your just not pro potential then thats just the way it is, which could be the case for Skal. But I dont ever seeing him slipping to the DNP end of the bench by his second or third season.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 You completely missed the point of my post- I’m not saying he has a better chance at GETTING to the NBA else where, I said he has a better chance at DOING something once he gets there elsewhere. He is going to get buried in the rotation if he doesn’t start picking up his play big time next year, else where there will be much less pressure to be great now, and will allow him to grow and develop better – the UK environment isn’t for everyone and I don’t think it suits Skal.

 

  I also completely disagree with your assertion that transferring hasn’t helped Wiltjer- he is almost definitely going to get drafted, and while he may have still been drafted if he had stayed at UK, instead of being a one dimensional, stick thin shooter, basically a worse Ryan Kelly, he bulked up in his transfer year and developed a killer post game and is now a much more dynamic and well rounded player, and the team who gets him will value him much more than the player they would have been getting had he stayed at UK buried behind top 10 recruit after top 10 recruit.

 

  Orton wouldn’t have got drafted if he had gone else where and he SHOULDN’T have been drafted at all. He wasn’t an NBA player, and why I mentioned him in the first place was because I was drawing a comparison if Skal were to continue to struggle all year and then declare- he would have the same impact Orton had in the NBA- none.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 You completely missed the point of my post- I’m not saying he has a better chance at GETTING to the NBA else where, I said he has a better chance at DOING something once he gets there elsewhere. He is going to get buried in the rotation if he doesn’t start picking up his play big time next year, else where there will be much less pressure to be great now, and will allow him to grow and develop better – the UK environment isn’t for everyone and I don’t think it suits Skal.

 

  I also completely disagree with your assertion that transferring hasn’t helped Wiltjer- he is almost definitely going to get drafted, and while he may have still been drafted if he had stayed at UK, instead of being a one dimensional, stick thin shooter, basically a worse Ryan Kelly, he bulked up in his transfer year and developed a killer post game and is now a much more dynamic and well rounded player, and the team who gets him will value him much more than the player they would have been getting had he stayed at UK buried behind top 10 recruit after top 10 recruit.

 

  Orton wouldn’t have got drafted if he had gone else where and he SHOULDN’T have been drafted at all. He wasn’t an NBA player, and why I mentioned him in the first place was because I was drawing a comparison if Skal were to continue to struggle all year and then declare- he would have the same impact Orton had in the NBA- none.

[evangelion79Participant]

 You obviously missed MY point. They want to make it to the NBA. Why transfer and possibly screw that up when you know you’ll get drafted where youre at. Thier dream is to play in the NBA and make millions. And you’re absolutely right that Orton wouldnt and SHOULDNT have gotten drafted. Which IS the point I’m making. A player like Orton can go to UK, show almost no value, and still get drafted in the first round making GARANTEED money. Orton is rich because he played for a big name school, even though he rode the bench and put up weak stats. Skal could do the same thing. 

[evangelion79Participant]

 You obviously missed MY point. They want to make it to the NBA. Why transfer and possibly screw that up when you know you’ll get drafted where youre at. Thier dream is to play in the NBA and make millions. And you’re absolutely right that Orton wouldnt and SHOULDNT have gotten drafted. Which IS the point I’m making. A player like Orton can go to UK, show almost no value, and still get drafted in the first round making GARANTEED money. Orton is rich because he played for a big name school, even though he rode the bench and put up weak stats. Skal could do the same thing. 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

They don’t dream of just making it to the NBA, getting a cheque and disappearing- they dream of being great players. I think his best chance at that is elsewhere. I don’t think going elsewhere stuffs up his chances at the next level at all.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

They don’t dream of just making it to the NBA, getting a cheque and disappearing- they dream of being great players. I think his best chance at that is elsewhere. I don’t think going elsewhere stuffs up his chances at the next level at all.

[Hype Machine]

I’m not a huge fan of the Orton Approach personally.

[Hype Machine]

I’m not a huge fan of the Orton Approach personally.

[kazamParticipant]

 Orton is most certainly an NBA player based on his size and skill. His issue is his mental toughness and overall attitude issues. He dominates guys in the D-League, but loses his head and gets in foul trouble. 

[kazamParticipant]

 Orton is most certainly an NBA player based on his size and skill. His issue is his mental toughness and overall attitude issues. He dominates guys in the D-League, but loses his head and gets in foul trouble. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

It’s crazy too see how passionate people are about hating the guy. It has clearly been noted what his problems are. He is weak by college standards, he is lost on the floor and has bad basketball IQ, he is uncommitted to rebounding and his drive needs to improve. It is pretty clear what his strengths are which would be his length, agillity and athletisism, and his touch and shooting.

What the kid needs is strict application of fundimentals and a hardcore workout regiment and diet. Maybe he does need to transfer because he may not find that in Kentucky.

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

It’s crazy too see how passionate people are about hating the guy. It has clearly been noted what his problems are. He is weak by college standards, he is lost on the floor and has bad basketball IQ, he is uncommitted to rebounding and his drive needs to improve. It is pretty clear what his strengths are which would be his length, agillity and athletisism, and his touch and shooting.

What the kid needs is strict application of fundimentals and a hardcore workout regiment and diet. Maybe he does need to transfer because he may not find that in Kentucky.

 

[Hype Machine]

He was erroneously presented as a top level talent, which has proven to not be the case. I got so many negs for saying he’s not that good almost a year ago…that I’m pretty sure it led to me getting banned lol. His upside isn’t hidden away…hes simple not as good as advertised. 

From what I’ve seen, he’s a 4 year guy after which time he could be a second round draft pick. He should go to a different school because minutes to showcase himself at Kentucky will be hard to find….and his presence will deter recruits if they think he will steal their minutes.

Hopefully scouts learned a lesson about using small sample sizes of non-competition play.

I dont hate Skal…I just hate bush-league scouting that hastily ranks someone less exposed to competiton than Darko Milicic ahead of the guy who just won 3 HS National Championships and who’s generational talent was as obvious as it gets.

It also serves as a case-in-point as to why forum users should form their own opinions instead of just taking what scouts say as gospel. Just cos theyre all copying each other…doesn’t mean we have to.

[Hype Machine]

He was erroneously presented as a top level talent, which has proven to not be the case. I got so many negs for saying he’s not that good almost a year ago…that I’m pretty sure it led to me getting banned lol. His upside isn’t hidden away…hes simple not as good as advertised. 

From what I’ve seen, he’s a 4 year guy after which time he could be a second round draft pick. He should go to a different school because minutes to showcase himself at Kentucky will be hard to find….and his presence will deter recruits if they think he will steal their minutes.

Hopefully scouts learned a lesson about using small sample sizes of non-competition play.

I dont hate Skal…I just hate bush-league scouting that hastily ranks someone less exposed to competiton than Darko Milicic ahead of the guy who just won 3 HS National Championships and who’s generational talent was as obvious as it gets.

It also serves as a case-in-point as to why forum users should form their own opinions instead of just taking what scouts say as gospel. Just cos theyre all copying each other…doesn’t mean we have to.

[HitsterParticipant]

If Skal does declare this year, I think we have to consider where he could be drafted and what the risks are. A team at the top of the draft is looking for a player who is hopefully a "franchise changer" or at least someone who will be a key part in helping the team improve.

Further down the lottery teams are either looking for upside or someone to perhaps fill an immediate need right away. Skal would be drafted on upside obviously as he may not be NBA ready for 2016/17. We then get back to the arguement is he better having another year under Cal at UK or possibly spending the time on an NBA team, learning but not playing major minutes. My view on this scenario is fairly even so a lot would depend on who might look to draft Skal.

Some teams will have more than one pick this summer and Skal would be an ideal player to be picked up by a team with their 2nd first round pick as it would take a lot of the pressure off him.

Also if Skal was drifting down the draft then some GM is likely to snap him up before he fell out of say the top 20 or even trade up to get him. These would be the play off teams who if they didn’t have a particular need to fill in the draft just go for upside and take BPA.

Teams like Denver or Boston might be the sort of teams who look at Skal with their later 2016 first rounders. It may seem strange but even Philly might consider him. Accepted they have a load of young bigs but Hinkie’s draft low, trade high theory could be applied to Skal. Charlotte could also be an option, working with Patrick Ewing would be a good way for Skal to develop. 

[HitsterParticipant]

If Skal does declare this year, I think we have to consider where he could be drafted and what the risks are. A team at the top of the draft is looking for a player who is hopefully a "franchise changer" or at least someone who will be a key part in helping the team improve.

Further down the lottery teams are either looking for upside or someone to perhaps fill an immediate need right away. Skal would be drafted on upside obviously as he may not be NBA ready for 2016/17. We then get back to the arguement is he better having another year under Cal at UK or possibly spending the time on an NBA team, learning but not playing major minutes. My view on this scenario is fairly even so a lot would depend on who might look to draft Skal.

Some teams will have more than one pick this summer and Skal would be an ideal player to be picked up by a team with their 2nd first round pick as it would take a lot of the pressure off him.

Also if Skal was drifting down the draft then some GM is likely to snap him up before he fell out of say the top 20 or even trade up to get him. These would be the play off teams who if they didn’t have a particular need to fill in the draft just go for upside and take BPA.

Teams like Denver or Boston might be the sort of teams who look at Skal with their later 2016 first rounders. It may seem strange but even Philly might consider him. Accepted they have a load of young bigs but Hinkie’s draft low, trade high theory could be applied to Skal. Charlotte could also be an option, working with Patrick Ewing would be a good way for Skal to develop. 

[ncballer]

 The OP lost me at Calipari is underrated as a Coach and points to his player development.  Last season was a historic no doubt.  However for every good player he has in the NBA Cousins, Wall, Bledsoe, etc, we could all point out the Harrison twins, Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee, Alex Poythress, etc.  

I don’t want to sound like a bitter UNC fan, but I would imagine a lot of the same people that criticized Roy for his development of McAdoo may be giving Calipari a pass on Skal.  Hell a lot of people here criticized Roy for his development of Tokoto when Tokoto was a top 80 player and wasn’t really on the NBA radar when he got to UNC.  

I personally think a lot of Coaches get credited too much for development or misdevelopment.  

That being said in regards to Skal I am really shocked at how poorly he is playing.  He outplayed a lot of freshman that are out performing him right now on the court out on the AAU circuit.  He just looks like he is overthinking.  He is a phenomenal human being, and I hope he can turn it around, but the future is not looking good right now.   

 

   

 

[ncballer]

 The OP lost me at Calipari is underrated as a Coach and points to his player development.  Last season was a historic no doubt.  However for every good player he has in the NBA Cousins, Wall, Bledsoe, etc, we could all point out the Harrison twins, Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee, Alex Poythress, etc.  

I don’t want to sound like a bitter UNC fan, but I would imagine a lot of the same people that criticized Roy for his development of McAdoo may be giving Calipari a pass on Skal.  Hell a lot of people here criticized Roy for his development of Tokoto when Tokoto was a top 80 player and wasn’t really on the NBA radar when he got to UNC.  

I personally think a lot of Coaches get credited too much for development or misdevelopment.  

That being said in regards to Skal I am really shocked at how poorly he is playing.  He outplayed a lot of freshman that are out performing him right now on the court out on the AAU circuit.  He just looks like he is overthinking.  He is a phenomenal human being, and I hope he can turn it around, but the future is not looking good right now.   

 

   

 

[Memphisboy14Participant]

I’ll say this much. If he declared for the draft. I think he will get drafted. He does have a good amount of talent and he’s young. He definitely wouldn’t go in the 1st round. But I could see a contender taking a flyer on him in the 2nd round. The same thing happened with DeAndre Jordan.

[Memphisboy14Participant]

I’ll say this much. If he declared for the draft. I think he will get drafted. He does have a good amount of talent and he’s young. He definitely wouldn’t go in the 1st round. But I could see a contender taking a flyer on him in the 2nd round. The same thing happened with DeAndre Jordan.

[GBeeParticipant]

 At least some people are catching on that UK is not the place to go to if a player wants to develop while he is there.  If a player is good enough to capitalize on hype, treat college as a weigh station en route to the NBA and be marketed to the fullest, then sure, go play for Cal.  If his goal is to improve, develop a fundamental base (let’s face it, for a lot of these kids their first real coach is their college coach), develop an understanding of half court offensive basketball which is paramount, then they need to start looking elsewhere. I wish kids, parents, their handlers, etc would recognize that but they don’t and won’t.  There are better teachers elsewhere and that is what Skal needs.  He was late to the game and was forced into becoming a basketball vagabond by his handler.  He has talent, but there was no continuity for him in HS.  That garbage, makeshift team that he played for last year didn’t help him either. 

I’m not writing him off as a prospect especially in this era of big man shooters.  He can shoot it, can create his shot a bit and he’s fairly athletic.  I think there’s a good chance that he still declares even after a bad year and still be taken in the first round.  I’ve seen worse projects taken in the first.  At least Skal has some type of skill so I wouldn’t compare his situation to that of Chris Walker’s who had none.  Ideally, he would transfer and go to a program that doesnt treat all their big men, not named Demarcus Cousins, the same.  You see the same ish with Cal and his bigs.  Let the guards and wings do most the work and the bigs just play athletically and clean up with the occasional post.  Heck he did that with Ant Davis and Davis was one of the most skilled bigs I’ve seen in HS in recent years.  His system is generic.  The next halfcourt offense with great design and execution I see from a Calipari team will be the first.  

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 At least some people are catching on that UK is not the place to go to if a player wants to develop while he is there.  If a player is good enough to capitalize on hype, treat college as a weigh station en route to the NBA and be marketed to the fullest, then sure, go play for Cal.  If his goal is to improve, develop a fundamental base (let’s face it, for a lot of these kids their first real coach is their college coach), develop an understanding of half court offensive basketball which is paramount, then they need to start looking elsewhere. I wish kids, parents, their handlers, etc would recognize that but they don’t and won’t.  There are better teachers elsewhere and that is what Skal needs.  He was late to the game and was forced into becoming a basketball vagabond by his handler.  He has talent, but there was no continuity for him in HS.  That garbage, makeshift team that he played for last year didn’t help him either. 

I’m not writing him off as a prospect especially in this era of big man shooters.  He can shoot it, can create his shot a bit and he’s fairly athletic.  I think there’s a good chance that he still declares even after a bad year and still be taken in the first round.  I’ve seen worse projects taken in the first.  At least Skal has some type of skill so I wouldn’t compare his situation to that of Chris Walker’s who had none.  Ideally, he would transfer and go to a program that doesnt treat all their big men, not named Demarcus Cousins, the same.  You see the same ish with Cal and his bigs.  Let the guards and wings do most the work and the bigs just play athletically and clean up with the occasional post.  Heck he did that with Ant Davis and Davis was one of the most skilled bigs I’ve seen in HS in recent years.  His system is generic.  The next halfcourt offense with great design and execution I see from a Calipari team will be the first.  

 

[Author]

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